"I work with charity’s delivering workshops on how they use social as a communications and engagement tool.

"I’ve worked with a lot of children and young people’s charities on young people’s experiences of social media.

"The big thing that that is coming out of research and from my discussions with young people is that adults take quite narrow views on what the digital world means to them and how it actually affects their lives. They take the view that everyone has the same experience or operates in the same way online.

"What has struck me most is that for some young people, who feel isolated in the traditional school setting, their social life exists online in a much bigger and more positive way than it does in school or for their peers. It is, in fact, a lifeline for them.

"A lot of kids don’t have the same social circles that we or other kids take for granted. Instead they have friends all over the globe that they trust and value.

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"The other big thing that they feedback is this notion that adults tell them that online relationships are dangerous and have no value or merit in the “real world.” Saying that to a bunch of kids who have their social relationships in that way, must be really sad for them.

"We have to look at the whole picture. If we push against young people’s online relationships then they will stop talking to adults about them, and that’s when it can become dangerous. By constantly having a one dimensional view of online life we push kids further away and then we have no idea about what their online life is actually like because they stop talking to us about it.

"Our role as adults is to appreciate the complexities of online relationships – the good, the bad and the ugly of them and realise what it means for young people and how important it is to them, and to keep the safe by supporting them. Without being naïve about it, as adults we have to make sure we respect and reflect that in the way we think and talk about online life because it is “real life” and can be a very positive part of it."

Ross is one of 10 key speakers who will take part in an independently held TEDx event on the topic of #ForTheNextGeneration on International Children's Day, November 20th at The Blythswood Hotel, Glasgow. For more information visit the site here